Deb Chitwood

“When I Learned to Read” Word Art Freebie

May 16, 2013 By Deb Chitwood 3 Comments

In honor of Children’s Book Week, here’s a word art freebie based on the Mary McLeod Bethune quote: “The whole world opened to me when I learned to read.”

To download word art (without watermark), click here, then right click on the image and choose “Save Picture As . . .”

For lots of literature-based activities for young children, see my post at Living Montessori Now: Montessori-Inspired Literature-Based Activities for Preschoolers.

Happy Children’s Book Week!

Note: I have lots of word-art inspiration at the Raising Figure Skaters Facebook page and on Pinterest!

Photo Credit: Background image by Dmytro Tolokonov.

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Linked to The Mommy Club Resources and Solutions at Milk and Cuddles and Crystal & Co. and Saturday Show & Tell.

“2 Teach Is 2 Touch Lives 4 Ever” Word Art Freebie

May 8, 2013 By Deb Chitwood 1 Comment

It’s Teacher Appreciation Week (the first full week of May)! In honor of the great teachers and coaches around the world, here’s a word art freebie based on the popular quote (author unknown):

2 teach is

2 touch lives

4 ever

To download word art (without watermark), click here, then right click on the image and choose “Save Picture As . . .”

Happy Teacher Appreciation Week!

Note: I have lots of word-art inspiration at the Raising Figure Skaters Facebook page and on Pinterest!

Photo Credit: Background image by Alexander Katz.

Filed Under: Freebies, Word-Art Quotation Freebies Tagged With: 2 teach is 2 touch lives 4 ever, digital scrapbooking freebie, freebie, teacher appreciation, word art, word-art freebie

Less Screen Time/More Family- and Outdoor Time

May 1, 2013 By Deb Chitwood 5 Comments

It’s Screen-Free Week (April 29-May5)! With spring and Screen-Free Week, it’s a great time to focus on spending more time outdoors and with your family. Even if it doesn’t work for your family to go completely screen free, spring is a perfect time to focus on reducing your family’s screen time.

It’s easy to find screen-free activities when lots of kid bloggers are specifically focusing on screen-free activities of all kinds this week.

Screen-Free Activities from Around the Blogosphere

Screen Free Week Activities and Resources {Link Up} from The Educators’ Spin on It (with a collection of screen-free activities in the link-up)

100 Fun Kids Activities for Screen Free Week from Nurture Store

Montessori-Inspired Screen-Free Activities (my post at Living Montessori Now)

I can’t imagine having regrets over spending too much time with family. Enjoy your family, and have a wonderful week and spring!

I have lots of quotes and word-art inspiration at the Raising Figure Skaters Facebook page and on Pinterest!

Photo Credit: Background photo at the top of the post by Denis Raev.

Filed Under: Parents' Role Tagged With: parenting, screen-free activities, Screen-Free Week

Love Ellie Fitness Fashions!

April 24, 2013 By Deb Chitwood Leave a Comment

My daughter, Christina, and I were given the opportunity to review some activewear by Ellie in March (“My Daughter and I Love Ellie Activewear!”) and again now. Both times have been great experiences!

Note: Although I was given clothes from Ellie, my opinions are my own. This post also contains affiliate links (at no cost to you).

Christina and I have been amazed at the cute selections and the way the clothes fit both of us perfectly (we both wear size small). We’ve been impressed with the styling, quality, and price of the Ellie designs. The designs are wonderful and the cost is very reasonable … even more so if you have a monthly subscription.

Ellie has a new collection each month and two ways you can order: as a member of the Fit Fashionista Club where you get 2 items of your choice (and free shipping) for only $49.95 per month or by purchasing individual items as a non-member.

Even though the clothes fit me well, Christina is the model in all the photos. (Christina always has someone available to act as photographer. In yesterday’s photos, the photographer was Christina’s husband, Tom Parkin.) The outfits Christina wore yesterday at San Diego’s Balboa Park are from the February and March collections. Be sure to check out Ellie’s Coral Crush Collection for April …. it’s super cute!

And don’t miss Christina’s “Fitness Fun with Ellie Activewear at Balboa Park” at Fit Body Full Life. You can read Christina’s review there and see lots of photos of Christina modeling six different Ellie outfits at Balboa Park! (She also describes the outfits she’s modeling.)

It’s unusual to find a clothing line that works so well for both mothers and daughters. Whether you’re a mom who works out a few times a week like me or an athlete or fitness professional like my daughter, you’re almost sure to find something you like at Ellie.

Check out the Ellie site to learn more. My readers can get 20% off by clicking the 20% off banner!

I have lots of quotes and word-art inspiration at the Raising Figure Skaters Facebook page and on Pinterest!

Filed Under: Product Reviews Tagged With: Ellie, Ellie activewear, fitness, fitness fashions, Love Ellie

“It’s Nice” Word Art Freebie

April 19, 2013 By Deb Chitwood Leave a Comment

I LOVE this quote, which is most often attributed to motivational speaker John Cassis: “It’s nice to be important, but it’s more important to be nice.”

I first heard the quote as the motto for Olympic figure skating champion Sarah Hughes, who learned it from her mother. It’s a concept that was important in my kids’ figure skating careers – and lives – as well. I always thought it was much more important that my kids grew up to be nice people than that they grew up to be “important” people. I feel very fortunate that many people have told me how nice my kids are. I truly believe that our kids will pick up what’s most important to us as parents.

Here are two different versions of word art using the quote:

To download word art (without watermark), click here, then right click on the image and choose “Save Picture As . . .”

Background image by Marina Sozonova.

To download word art (without watermark), click here, then right click on the image and choose “Save Picture As . . .”

Background image by Sónia Gonçalves.

Note: I have lots of word-art inspiration at the Raising Figure Skaters Facebook page and on Pinterest!

Filed Under: Freebies, Parents' Role, Word-Art Quotation Freebies Tagged With: character, digital scrapbooking freebie, It's nice to be important but it's more important to be nice, John Cassis Quote, parenting, word art, word-art freebie

Ultimate Blog Party 2013!

April 4, 2013 By Deb Chitwood 10 Comments

Welcome to Raising Figure Skaters and the Ultimate Blog Party 2013! What a great way to make some new online friends! The Ultimate Blog Party is hosted by Janice and Susan at 5 Minutes for Mom. You can join, too … write a post about your blog and enter it in a linky to make lots of new blogging friends. And you can register for some awesome prizes!

Here’s a bit about me:

I’m Deb Chitwood, a Montessori educator/writer and mom of two grown children. I also have 14 years of experience as a mom of competitive figure skaters. I homeschooled my kids through high school. They both have college degrees now and are figure-skating coaches. In addition to being coaches, my son is a DJ, and my daughter is a fitness specialist. (Note: If you’re interested in fitness, be sure to check out my daughter and son-in-law’s blog at Fit Body Full Life!)

My whole family has had many amazing experiences as a result of my kids’ figure skating. In addition to providing lots of great opportunities for character development, figure skating allowed us to travel many places in the world, gave my daughter a chance to get her university degree (and meet her husband) in England while representing Great Britain as an ice dancer, and even gave me the opportunity to get my master’s degree in Early Childhood Education in England! You can read more about my family and me at my About page.

Here are some places you can find me online:

Twitter as @RaisingSkaters, @DebChitwood, and @SpringSnowPub. Through @RaisingSkaters, I tweet and retweet a lot of inspirational quotes, word-art freebies, motivational posts, and ways to make a difference.
Raising Figure Skaters Facebook page. I add an inspirational Quote of the Day and often share word-art inspiration. You can also find me at the Living Montessori Now Facebook page and Spring Snow Publications Facebook page. You’ll find lots of interesting (and different) information at each of my Facebook pages.
RSS feed (Get my blog posts in your Google Reader or another reader.)
Google+ page
Pinterest, where I share Word-Art Inspiration along with lots of activities and ideas for parents.

What You’ll Find at Raising Figure Skaters

I often have a word-art freebie based on a quote or saying. I especially focus on inspirational quotes that can apply to anyone. I also publish posts with inspiration of any kind, best quotes on a topic, motivation for life, focus on gratitude, parenting posts, encouragement for parents and athletes, tips on raising kids with character, or ways to make a difference.

I’d like to share a word art freebie that I often use as an image for Raising Figure Skaters:

“Where Hope Grows, Miracles Blossom” Word Art Freebie (without watermark)

I’ve been publishing lots of posts this year on body image and self-esteem. And I’m happy to be part of the Ultimate Blog Party and to meet new friends. Today, I’d also like to share this word art with you.

“Happy Girls Are the Prettiest Girls” Word Art Freebie (without watermark)

And here are lots more Word-Art Freebies.

Happy partying!

Filed Under: Blogging and Networking Tagged With: blogging and networking, Ultimate Blog Party, Ultimate Blog Party 2013

“Throw Yourself” Word Art Freebie

March 27, 2013 By Deb Chitwood 3 Comments

One of my favorite quotes about personal growth is by C. JoyBell C.:

“The only way that we can live, is if we grow. The only way that we can grow is if we change. The only way that we can change is if we learn. The only way we can learn is if we are exposed. And the only way that we can become exposed is if we throw ourselves out into the open. Do it. Throw yourself.”

To download word art (without watermark), click here, then right click on the image and choose “Save Picture As . . .”

Are you throwing yourself?

Note: I have lots of word-art inspiration at the Raising Figure Skaters Facebook page and on Pinterest!

Photo Credit: Background image by Sarah Holmlund.

Filed Under: Word-Art Quotation Freebies Tagged With: C. JoyBell C. quote, digital scrapbooking freebie, freebie, word art, word-art quotation freebie

Are You Treasuring the Time You Have with Your Children?

March 20, 2013 By Deb Chitwood 8 Comments

My husband and I recently returned from spending ten days with our kids/kid-in-love in San Diego. There’s nothing that’s more special to us than spending time with our family.

As an empty nester, I can definitely say it’s true that children grow up too fast and that you’ll never regret treasuring the time you have with your children.

One of my favorite quotes about parenthood is by Elizabeth Stone: “Making the decision to have a child is momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body.” I feel that always … when I’m with my kids and when we’re living a few states away.” And I’m very grateful that we’re all on the same continent now.

Two of the things I’m most proud of that my husband and I did as parents are (1) following our children’s interests (which gave us all amazing experiences and helped our children find successful careers in fields of their interests) and (2) spending lots of quality time with our children.

Luckily for us, as homeschoolers my husband and I were able to spend more time with our children than most parents can. Although not all parents can spend that much time with their children, all parents can work on truly appreciating the time they do have.

These clips aren’t all about parents and children, but they are very moving reminders to appreciate the time you have with your family:

Stock Photo at top of post by Yuri Arcurs

Linked with The Sunday Parenting Party

Filed Under: Parents' Role

My Daughter and I Love Ellie Activewear!

March 16, 2013 By Deb Chitwood Leave a Comment

My daughter, Christina, and I were given the opportunity to review some activewear by Ellie. Christina specializes in fitness, and I’m a mom who values fitness and works out at least three days each week. So we couldn’t pass up the opportunity!

Christina Chitwood Wearing the Ellie Under Your Spell Sports Bra and Peek-a-Boo Tank

My husband and I just returned from visiting our kids/kids-in-love in San Diego, so Christina and I were able to have some fun at La Jolla Shores while Christina modeled her new Ellie Under Your Spell sports bra and Peek-a-Boo Tank from the February collection. She had ordered 2 tops as her items to review, so she’s just wearing some Victoria’s Secret sports shorts along with the Ellie tops.

Be sure to check out Christina’s Fitness Fun with Ellie Activewear at Fit Body Full Life to read Christina’s review and see a 5-photo collage of Christina at the beach.

I had the After Dark Tank and Kiss Me Capris waiting for me when I arrived back in Colorado Springs yesterday. Christina will model them within a couple of weeks. Watch for that post, too!

I was a bit worried as a 50-something mom that some of the styles might look too young for me. But I LOVED the items I received. I don’t typically wear sleeveless tops, so I couldn’t believe how cute the top looks on me. And there are short-and long-sleeved tops for fashionable versions of styles I would normally wear. Ellie size small fits both Christina and me perfectly, so we can even share our fitness clothes!

With the four items I’ve seen, I’ve been impressed with both the styling and quality. The designs are wonderful, so it’s difficult to choose just two pieces. With such reasonable prices, I didn’t necessarily expect the quality to be very high. It was a pleasant surprise! All the items are soft and comfortable as well.

I recommend Ellie for females who are teens on up. It’s unusual to find a clothing line that works so well for both mothers and daughters. Christina often wore various types of activewear when she trained as a competitive ice dancer, and I know she would have loved Ellie when she was a competitive skater, too.

Check out the Ellie site to learn more. My readers can get 20% off by clicking the 20% off banner!

Disclosure: I received two items from Ellie to provide an honest review. My opinions are my own. This post also contains affiliate links (at no cost to you).

I have lots of quotes and word-art inspiration at the Raising Figure Skaters Facebook page and on Pinterest!

Filed Under: Product Reviews Tagged With: Ellie, Ellie activewear, fitness

True Inspiration – Connor and Cayden Long, 2012 Sports Illustrated Kids SportsKids of the Year

February 27, 2013 By Deb Chitwood 4 Comments

In January, I published a post on How to Help Each of Your Children Feel Special. One of my suggestions was to try to support each child’s extracurricular activities as a family.

The story of Connor and Cayden Long, 2012 Sports Illustrated Kids SportsKids of the Year, is a truly moving story of a brother’s love and encouragement of his brother through triathlons.

I love the way the Longs show the best of sports and family support.

For a moving sports story about a father’s love for his son, see Dick and Rick Hoyt – Father and Son Inspiration. You’ll find another moving video about brotherly love and encouragement embedded in How to Help Each of Your Children Feel Special.

Stock Photo by rumos.

I have lots of quotes and word-art inspiration at the Raising Figure Skaters Facebook page and on Pinterest!

Filed Under: Inspiration, Inspirational Sports Stories, Parents' Role Tagged With: 2012 Sports Illustrated Kids SportsKids of the Year, Connor and Cayden Long, Inspiration